Charlotte's Leading Local News: Weather, Traffic, Sports and more | Charlotte, North Carolina | WCNC.com

A man wearing a commemorative t-shirt for the flight of Singapore Airlines flight SQ22 is seen at the check-in counter at Changi Airport in Singapore on Oct. 11 2018.

Author: Associated Press

Published: 2:05 PM EDT October 11, 2018

Updated: 3:01 PM EDT October 11, 2018

Singapore Airlines retakes title for longest commercial flight

1/18

Wong Maye-E, AP

Ingmar De Kegel of Belgium waits at the check-in counter of Singapore Airlines flight SQ22 to Newark on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, in Singapore.

2/18

Wallace Woon, EPA-EFE

A commemorative keychain and postcard for Singapore Airlines flight SQ22 are seen in Singapore, Oct. 11, 2018. Singapore Airlines (SIA) is restarting its SQ22 flight, a non-stop flight from Singapore Changi Airport to Newark Liberty International Airport.

3/18

Roslan Rahman, AFP/Getty Images

Singaporean William Chua (right) with family members, all passengers of flight SQ22, Singapore Airlines' inaugural non-stop flight to Newark pose with souvenir cards after their checking in at Changi International Airport in Singapore on Oct. 11, 2018.

4/18

Roslan Rahman, AFP/Getty Images

Passengers of Singapore Airlines Flight 22 from Singapore to Newark pose for a picture at Singapore's Changi Airport on Oct. 11, 2018.

5/18

Wong Maye-E, AP

Passengers traveling on Singapore Airlines flights wait at check-in counters where advertisements for the airline's inaugural non-stop flight from Singapore to Newark is flashed on screens on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, in Singapore.

Singaporean William Chua (right) with family members, all passengers of flight SQ22, Singapore Airlines' inaugural non-stop flight to Newark pose with souvenir cards after their checking in at Changi International Airport in Singapore on Oct. 11, 2018.

Singapore Airlines passengers check in at Changi International Airport in Singapore on Oct. 11, 2018.

18/18

Roslan Rahman, AFP/Getty Images

A Singapore Airlines passenger checks in at the automated booth at Changi International Airport in Singapore on Oct. 11, 2018.

1/18

Wong Maye-E, AP

Ingmar De Kegel of Belgium waits at the check-in counter of Singapore Airlines flight SQ22 to Newark on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2018, in Singapore.

SINGAPORE (AP) — The world’s longest direct commercial flight is back and taking travelers from Singapore to the New York region.

Operated by Singapore Airlines, the city-state’s national carrier, the trip takes slightly under 19 hours. Skipping a stopover in Frankfurt will save hours of traveling time, the carrier says.

Starting Thursday, the route between Changi Airport and Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey will be served three times a week. A week later, the carrier will offer daily flights, after a second Airbus A350-900ULR aircraft is delivered.

Singapore Airlines launched the record-breaking route in 2004, but canceled it nine years later because of rising fuel prices.

Campbell Wilson, its senior vice president of sales and marketing, said the Airbus A350-900ULR, which was delivered two weeks ago, consumes 25 percent less fuel than an older generation aircraft of the same size.

“It allows us to offer a service that eliminates a transfer in the middle, it saves people six hours, it gets people there in comfort ... we think it’s going to be a good success,” Wilson said.

The flight won’t have any economy seats. Instead, it has 94 more-spacious premium economy and 67 business class seats, which can fold out into a bed.

Skytrax ranks the world's top airlines for 2018 (see the top 20)

A flight attendant readies for service aboard Boeing's first 787-10 delivery to launch customer Singapore Airlines, on March 26, 2018 during its ferry flight to Singapore.

2/21

Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special to USA TODAY

x

3/21

KLM

This image provided by KLM shows a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner in the colors of the Dutch carrier.

4/21

Bulent Kilic, AFP/Getty Images

This file photo from March 16, 2013, shows a Turkish Airlines planes at the Ataturk Airport in Istanbul.

5/21

Air New Zealand

Air New Zealand has debuted a new livery.

6/21

Austrian Airlines

Austrian Airlines provided this image of one of its Boeing 777-200 aircraft.

7/21

Etihad Airways

An Etihad Airways' Boeing 777.

8/21

Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special to USA TODAY

x

9/21

Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special to USA TODAY

A Japan Airlines Boeing 777 lands from Tokyo at San Francisco International Airport on October 23, 2016.

10/21

Swiss Airlines

Onlookers photograph the arrival of the first of Swiss Airlines’ new Boeing 777-300ERs to arrive in New York on Feb. 21, 2016.

11/21

Qantas

Skytrax, a U.K.-based travel consultancy that runs what it calls the "world's largest review site," determines the winners of its annual World Airline Awards from reviews by more than 18 million passengers that represent more than 100 countries. At No. 15 for 2017: Qantas Airways.

12/21

Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special to USA TODAY

A Thai Airways Boeing 777-300 takes off from Hong Kong in August, 2017.

13/21

Adek Berry, AFP/Getty Images

Skytrax, a U.K.-based travel consultancy that runs what it calls the "world's largest review site," determines the winners of its annual World Airline Awards from reviews by more than 18 million passengers that represent more than 100 countries. At No. 10 for 2017: Garuda Indonesia.

14/21

Hainan Airlines

Hainan Airlines staff holds a banner commemorating the carrier's launch of service between Beijing and Boston.

15/21

Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special to USA TODAY

A Lufthansa Airbus A380 lands at Los Angeles International Airport on September 24, 2017.

16/21

Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special to USA TODAY

A Cathay Pacific Airbus A350-900 takes off from Hong Kong in August, 2017.

17/21

Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special to USA TODAY

Flight attendants serving on EVA Air's last passenger Boeing 747 jet take photos of one another before departing Hong Kong for Taipei, Taiwan on August 21, 2017.

Qatar Airways' economy class cabin, seen aboard the world's first Airbus A350-1000 at a delivery ceremony in Toulouse, France, on Feb. 20, 2018.

21/21

Roslan Rahman, AFP/Getty Images

Singapore Airlines welcomes the world's first Boeing 787-10 aircraft with a water cannon salute upon its arrival to Singapore from Boeing's production facility in North Charleston, S.C., on March 28, 2018.

1/21

Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren, special for USA TODAY

A flight attendant readies for service aboard Boeing's first 787-10 delivery to launch customer Singapore Airlines, on March 26, 2018 during its ferry flight to Singapore.

Business seats come with a mattress topper and firm and soft pillows. Bathrooms in the premium economy section are fitted with a spray for hydration. Passengers will have 1,200 hours of movie and television content to choose from, up from the usual 1,000.

The Singapore carrier has seven more A350-900ULRs on firm order with Airbus. The aircraft can fly for over 20 hours or 18,000 kilometers (11,250 miles) non-stop.

Airbus says cabin pressure is set at the equivalent of 6,000 feet above sea level, compared to the weaker 8,000 feet in older aircraft of similar size and performance.

It says the stronger cabin pressure, combined with the latest air conditioning, reduces passenger fatigue and leads to a less dry cabin environment.

Passengers on Flight SQ22 were invited Thursday to celebrations at the gate, where flight attendants performed songs including the hit “New York, New York.” New York cheesecake and hot dogs were served.

Tilo Kruger was boarding the flight with three friends — all members of the “first to fly” club, which was formed after the inaugural Airbus A380 flew from Singapore to Sydney in 2007.

Kruger will not be spending time in New York. He plans to quickly leave for Atlanta and then travel to Houston. After a short stopover, he will then travel to Manchester before heading home to Ireland after some 34 hours in the air.

“I just want to explore how the aircraft looks, and party time hopefully. It’s a nice hobby. I get the opportunity to come to Singapore, stay here, be in the city, but then also see other destinations,” he said.

Other passengers were more apprehensive. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do for 18 1/2 hours. Watch all the movies I can, I guess,” said Peggy Ang, who is on business trip to Orlando.

“My cousin said ‘hey, this is in the press.’ I’m going to take pictures and show her,” she said.